Pittsburgh’s Rooney clarifies Irish Times comments on Obama campaign

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney has clarified comments he made in the Irish Times, which reported he was considering leaving his post as Irish ambassador to work on President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.

Rooney has issued a statement saying some people have drawn an incorrect conclusion from his Saturday comments. Rooney says he was asked what he could do to help President Obama, and he says he told the Irish Times he might help with the campaign — but noted he would have to resign as ambassador to do so.

But Rooney says he’s not been asked to campaign for the president and has no plans to leave his foreign policy post.

A State Department spokeswoman also says there are no current plans for a change in Rooney’s status.